Gedmatch’s Dodecad DNA analysis and African DNA results

Continuing the series of posts covering the various genetic admixture analytic tools hosted by Gedmatch, this post covers the Dodecad tool.

The team behind Dodecad carried out an extensive K=3 Admixture analysis of around 130 different populations and about 2,000 individuals from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Using the allele frequency results of this analysis, the Dodecad team were able to create an analytical model that represents West Eurasians, Asians, and Sub-Saharan Africans.

Based on a relatively small genetic sampling, it’s worth understanding that some results will probably be skewed. I’d advise to interpret the proportional results as representative rather than as actual. While not a pan-African continental admixture analytic tool, I was pretty optimistic about the results it would provide.

Before you cast an eye over the results, it’s worth understanding two of the main classification terminology for the Dodecad tests:

Palaeo-Africans: Sub-Saharan African tribes including the San, Mbuti and Biaka Pygmy tribes; and

Neo-Africans: Sub-Saharan tribes including the Yoruba, Mandenka and Bantu-speaking tribes

Dodecad V3 Admixture Proportions

Population

East_European

3.40%

West_European

16.44%

Mediterranean

9.91%

Neo_African

32.43%

West_Asian

5.46%

South_Asian

1.04%

Northeast_Asian

0.21%

Southeast_Asian

0.95%

East_African

7.10%

Southwest_Asian

0.24%

Northwest_African

3.01%

Palaeo_African

19.81%

Africa9 Admixture Proportions

According to the explanatory notes, the number of SNPs for this analysis is small: there is probably noise in the minor components, but the major components of one’s ancestry should be well-defined. As such, this DNA analytical tool should be used by Africans and African-West Eurasian admixed individuals. It is not meant for people with additional admixture (e.g., South/East Asian or Native American).

Population

Europe

22.78%

NW_Africa

9.23%

SW_Asia

11.21%

E_Africa

3.32%

S_Africa

9.90%

Mbuti

2.17%

W_Africa

36.61%

Biaka

3.03%

San

1.74%

Given my own exceedingly mixed genetic inheritance, I was pretty happy with the basic snapshot of African DNA distribution given above – at least within the African populations that this test covers.

World9 Admixture Proportions

This test was designed to measure Amerindian admixtures.

An important caveat for Americans who suspect that they may have an Amerindian ancestor: trace amounts of Amerindian in this analysis might be attributable to ‘noise’. This component is also found in Siberia, and may represent either backflow from the Americas or the common ancestry of Siberian and Amerindian populations. I suspect that this is the case with my results through what I’ve already known about my genetic links to various Siberian cultures..

Population

Amerindian

1.10%

East_Asian

0.32%

African

56.93%

Atlantic_Baltic

24.20%

Australasian

0.50%

Siberian

0.15%

Caucasus_Gedrosia

6.50%

Southern

9.89%

South_Asian

0.41%

Dodecad K7b Admixture Proportions

This test was designed to focus on the analysis of African contributed admixtures.

Population

South_Asian

0.69%

West_Asian

7.24%

Siberian

0.60%

African

57.92%

Southern

8.49%

Atlantic_Baltic

24.53%

East_Asian

0.52%

Dodecad K12b Admixture Proportions

This test was designed to focus on the analysis of Eurasian contributed admixtures.

Population

Gedrosia*

3.04%

Siberian

0.75%

Northwest_African

0.73%

Southeast_Asian

0.34%

Atlantic_Med

13.33%

North_European

13.57%

South_Asian

0.82%

East_African

6.14%

Southwest_Asian

1.01%

East_Asian

–

Caucasus

7.62%

Sub_Saharan

52.65%

* OK, so I had to look this one up. Gedrosia is the hellenized name of an area that corresponds to today’s Balochistan. It mainly includes southwestern Pakistan, southeastern Iran and a very small section of southwestern Afghanistan

The more I read about these free admixture analysis tools, the more I begin to realize that the data used to compile them comes from publicly available sources. In other words, there is limited access to data to compile large data sets which would provide truly refined results. The developers deserve props and kudos for spending an inordinate amount of time in developing free analytical tools.

It’s worth bearing the above in mind. If you’re of mixed African descent, my advice is to approach these free analytic tools as basic, illustrative overviews; unless you plan to have a full DNA test done.

Overall, I continue to be amazed at the additional genetic insights are available via an Ancestry.com DNA test I uploaded to Gedmatch.

Ancestry has the least amount of tools available to analyze raw DNA. Anyone who has tested with FamilyTree or 23andme can also upload their raw DNA to GEDmatch. The service is not limited to Ancestry only.

Ancestry.com does allow members to download raw data which can be uploaded to GEDmatch. The Dodecad tests aren’t as detailed as the Ethiohelix K10 Africa Only, MDLP K23b, and puntDNAL K15 since they break down the regions within Africa. My DNA is Neo, Paleo, East, and Northwestern African. The tests defined the regions and groups as West and East Africa/Horn of Africa, Nilo-Saharan, Mbuti, San, Biaka, Khoi-San, Omotic/Omo River, Hazda, and White Nile River.

I wish there were tests that break down West African DNA specifically. I’ve been told by several people that my phenotype resembles the Fulani and Igbo people.

DivineWaters… I am pretty sure on 23andMe it does break that down? When I have looked at all my mixtures? I have .5 West Africa and .5 North Africa. And it breaks it down to a time period of about 1710 to 1810. Or a 7 Xs grandparent being of African decent. My lowest and most interesting mix is the European Jewish? When I look at my DNA matches on 4th cousins or closer in AncestryDNA. I have figured out what side of the family the Jewish is coming from. I doubt I ever know a name, or if it’s male or female? Because it’s such a tiny amount. And the African can be a part of Early American Settlers and either part of the Slave situation or? Wherever men have went into uncharted territory… They always find love… or part of a exodus or war in the past 2000 years. In Europe or America. I sure dont understand the science of DNA. But History, American and World History I get that for sure… Human Nature! it sure is interesting! Jesus was Jewish. So I don’t understand how that got to be a ethnicity? When it was a belief?